With a victory in the second Test against Australia, which begins on Friday, February 17 in Delhi, Team India will attempt to move one step closer to qualifying for the World Test Championship final. In the first Test, Rohit Sharma and co. defeated the Australians by an inning and 132 runs, but the visitors might be a better team in the second match. Travis Head, Cameron Green, and Mitchell Starc might come back into the fight, and a few players who aren’t doing well might be dropped. India, on the other hand, is unlikely to make numerous side changes. In order to participate in the Ranji Trophy final, Jaydev Unadkat was released from the squad, and a few other players are all set to receive a long rope.
The predicted Indian team for the second Test against Australia is as follows:
- Rohit Sharma (captain)
- KL Rahul (vice-captain)
- Shubman Gill
- Cheteshwar Pujara
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer
- KS Bharat (wk)
- Ishan Kishan (wk)
- Ravichandran Ashwin
- Axar Patel
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Mohammad Shami
- Mohammed Siraj
- Umesh Yadav
- Suryakumar Yadav
Technical Analysis
The second Test between India and Australia is set to begin on Friday, February 17, in Delhi. After a commanding performance in the first Test, the Indian team will look to take another step towards qualifying for the World Test Championship final. India will be without Jaydev Unadkat, who has been released from the squad to participate in the Ranji Trophy final.
Australia, on the other hand, will look to bounce back from their defeat in the first Test. They might make a few changes to their side, with Travis Head, Cameron Green, and Mitchell Starc all likely to return to the playing XI. India, on the other hand, is expected to field the same team that won the first Test.
The Indian team will once again be led by Rohit Sharma, who was in sublime form in the first Test. He will be accompanied at the top of the order by KL Rahul, who has been named the vice-captain for the series. Shubman Gill, who scored a half-century in the first Test, will occupy the number three spot.
Cheteshwar Pujara, who was dismissed for a duck in the first innings of the first Test, will look to make amends in the second Test. The former Indian captain Virat Kohli, who made a half-century in the first Test, will look to continue his good form. He will be followed by Shreyas Iyer, who is set to make his Test debut.
In the wicket-keeping department, India has two options in KS Bharat and Ishan Kishan. Bharat is likely to get the nod over Kishan due to his experience in the longer format of the game.
The Indian bowling attack will once again be led by Ravichandran Ashwin, who was the player of the match in the first Test. He will be joined by Axar Patel, who picked up a five-wicket haul in the first innings of the first Test. Kuldeep Yadav, who was brought in as a replacement for the injured Jasprit Bumrah in the first Test, is likely to retain his place in the playing XI.
The all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who missed the first Test due to injury, is expected to return to the playing XI for the second Test. He will provide India with a good bowling option as well as a handy bat in the lower order.
In the fast bowling department, India has the likes of Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, and Suryakumar Yadav. Shami and Siraj are likely to lead the attack, with Umesh and Suryakumar providing support.
Overall, the Indian team looks well-balanced and is likely to pose a tough challenge to the Australians. However, the visitors will be eager to bounce back and level the series. It will be interesting to see how the two teams fare in the second Test.
Conclusion
Based on the probable lineup for India’s second Test against Australia, it is clear that the Indian team is focused on maintaining its winning momentum and securing a spot in the World Test Championship final. The squad is well-balanced and features a mix of experienced players and young talent. In this technical conclusion, we will examine some of the key strengths and weaknesses of the Indian team, as well as the challenges they may face against the Australian side.
One of India’s biggest strengths in the upcoming Test series is their batting line-up. Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, and Suryakumar Yadav are all excellent batsmen who can score big runs and anchor the innings when needed. India’s batting line-up is particularly strong in the top and middle order, where they have several experienced and talented players. Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul are expected to open the innings, with Shubman Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara following them. Virat Kohli, who is one of the best batsmen in the world, will bat at number five and provide stability to the middle order. Shreyas Iyer and Suryakumar Yadav, who are both in great form, are expected to bat lower down the order and provide firepower to the team.
Another key strength of the Indian team is their spin bowling attack. Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja are all world-class spinners who can trouble even the best batsmen in the world. Ashwin, who took a five-wicket haul in the first Test against Australia, is expected to lead the spin attack. Axar Patel, who made his Test debut in the first Test, impressed with his accurate bowling and is likely to retain his place in the playing XI. Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja, who are both experienced spinners, provide depth to the spin attack and can be effective on turning tracks.
However, India’s bowling attack may face some challenges against the Australian batsmen, who are known for their aggressive and attacking style of play. The return of Travis Head, Cameron Green, and Mitchell Starc will strengthen the Australian middle order and provide more depth to their batting line-up. India’s pacers, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and Umesh Yadav, will have to be on top of their game and use their pace and swing to unsettle the Australian batsmen.
India’s probable lineup for the second Test against Australia is strong and well-balanced. The team has several key strengths, including their batting line-up and spin bowling attack, that could give them an advantage over the Australian side. However, they will face tough competition from the visitors, who are likely to make some changes to their team and come back stronger in the second Test. Overall, it promises to be an exciting and closely contested match between two of the best Test sides in the world.